Head On, a new campaign backed by 20 mental health organisations, is calling on political leaders to put mental health at the heart of the nation’s renewal.
New polling published today by the Wellcome Trust and More in Common finds that the public is ahead of Westminster, and three quarters of Britons (75%) say the government should do more to improve mental health services.
The gap between public concern and political action has real consequences. In England, the numbers waiting 18 months for mental health treatment far outstrip those for physical health. Behind those delays are people and families waiting too long for help, often until problems escalate into crisis.
Even as other issues have become more divisive, public support for mental health has remained remarkably strong between 2023 and 2026. In a polarised climate, it stands out as a rare point of agreement, bringing together people of all political persuasions.
Britons are nearly three times more likely to say that those speaking about mental health have genuine health and welfare concerns than to accuse them of making excuses (63% vs 22%), and three quarters of the public, 73%, say mental health is as important as physical health. The campaign argues that this consensus leaves political leaders with both a clear mandate and a responsibility to act.
The Head On Campaign, funded by Wellcome, is led by a coalition of over 20 leading UK mental health charities including Centre for Mental Health, Rethink Mental Illness, Mental Health Innovations and Young Minds, united by a shared belief: the current system is not good enough and we can fix it.
Andy Bell, chief executive at Centre for Mental Health said: “Head On brings together over 20 charities who are backed by public opinion in demanding mental health gets the political attention it deserves. We must fund and scale what works – with a focus on driving down mental health waiting lists and prioritising prevention, early intervention and community care. Action can’t wait, and we urgently need a clear, ambitious, strategic vision for our nation’s mental health from the Government.”
